Why do you hate him so? No, Rick is right and everything will be fine. Billy will be fine! 8..(

This was short and heartbreaking but I know in the end everything worked out for the best so I won't cry. Billy was fine.

So does he die or not? Great story but the ending line ... I'm guessing that's telling us that Billy does in fact surive. But the way u ended it say he didn't. It was really sad. I cried or felt like it.

well, you might as well own it. I think you've written far more than the original writers ever did. :)

I love how determined Rick is that Billy will get better, even with all evidence to the contrary. and the references to the prior episodes just make me smile. and I'm glad Billy will stick around to play his cards. :)

Ahhhhh! Does he live or die? I need to know!
But I suppose that's not really the point of the story. But still!
It was cute. And if Billy did/does survive, I can imagine that he'll be very happy with the desk duty (for a certain amount of time) because he's still alive.
So why does Rita in accounting never ask for his receipts? :D

I have so much love for this fic. The way you incorporate references to series dialogue and twist the resignation into hope through Rick's sheer force of determination is just brilliant. 3

bittersweet and lovely.

I love the way you used the dialogue from the first episode there at the end, how Rick turned Billy's words around to win the argument. I also loved the part about the paperwork. For some reason, it just seemed even more funny not knowing if Billy really would be around to do it or not. And was that line about making worms' meat something from Shakespeare? It sounds like it, but I can't remember.

My favorite part:

Rick's chest clenches painfully and he feels the sting of tears, hot and powerful behind his eyes. He grinds his teeth together and shakes his head, jostling Billy. "No," he says flatly.

Billy grimaces, tilting his head up to look at Rick. His blue eyes are tired and clouded, and he looks older than he ever has before. "They've made worms meat of me, I fear," he says. "It was bound to happen..." He breaks for a moment, swallowing with effort. "...sooner or later."

What a beautiful, dramatically painful, Shakespearean laced moment between two beautiful men! :)